Inorganic skin film

ABSTRACT

A slide surface construction which is an inorganic skin film formed of an aggregate of Fe crystals having a body-centered cubic structure. The aggregate includes a large number of {222} oriented Fe crystals with their {222} planes (by Miller indices) oriented toward a slide surface. At least some of these {222} oriented Fe crystals are hexangular pyramid-shaped Fe crystals having six ridge lines. These Fe crystals having six ridge lines ensure that the oil retention of the slide surface construction can be improved, and a slide load acting on the slide surface can be finely divided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an inorganic skin film and, in particular, to an inorganic skin film formed of an aggregate of crystals and having at least one of a large number of pyramid-shaped metal crystals and a large number of truncated pyramid-shaped metal crystals in a surface thereof, and to a process for forming such inorganic skin film.

2. Description of the Prior Art

One example of such conventionally known inorganic skin films is an Fe-plated layer which is provided on outer peripheral surfaces of a land portion and a skirt portion of a base material of aluminum alloy, for example, of a piston for an internal combustion engine in order to provide an improved wear resistance.

However, under existing circumstances where a high speed and a high output of the internal combustion engine are desired, the prior art Fe-plated layer suffers from problems of insufficient oil-retaining property, i.e., oil retention, and poor initial conformability and thus a poor seizure resistance because the slide surface thereof is relatively smooth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an inorganic skin film of the type described above, and a process for forming the same, which can meet the above demand.

To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided an inorganic skin film formed of an aggregate of crystals having a cubic crystal structure, at least some of these crystals being hexangular pyramid-shaped or truncated hexangular pyramid-shaped crystals having six ridge lines in a surface of the skin film.

The hexangular pyramid-shaped or truncated hexangular pyramid-shaped crystals, i.e., crystals having six ridge lines, are small in average grain size and substantially uniform in grain size, as compared with triangular pyramid-shaped or truncated triangular pyramid-shaped crystals, i.e., crystals having three ridge lines. In the crystals having six ridge lines, there is a correlation between the grain size and the height. Thus, the grain size is substantially uniform, which indicates that the height is also substantially equal. Moreover, two adjacent metal crystals having six ridge lines assume mutually biting states.

For example, if the inorganic skin film of metal crystals having six ridge lines is used as a slide surface construction, the slide surface thereof has an enlarged surface area, as compared with the case where the slide surface is formed of crystals having three ridge lines. In addition, the slide surface takes on a very intricate morphology having a large number of extremely fine crests, a large number of extremely fine valleys defined between the crests, and a large number of extremely fine swamps defined due to the mutual biting of the crests, and hence, the slide surface construction has an extremely good oil retention. The slide surface construction also has an enhanced initial conformability by preferential wearing of tip ends of the crystals having six ridge lines.

Further, by finely dividing the crystals having six ridge lines uniformly, a local increase in surface pressure can be avoided, and a fine division of a slide load can be achieved. Thus, the slide surface construction exhibits an excellent wear resistance not only with lubrication but also without lubrication.

In addition, according to the present invention, there is provided a process for forming an inorganic skin film by plating, the inorganic skin film being formed of an aggregate of crystals and including at least one of a large number of pyramid-shaped crystals and a large number of truncated pyramid-shaped crystals in a surface of the skin film, the process having the steps of: controlling the output of a plating energy source to produce a pulse waveform such that the output is increased from a minimum value to reach a maximum value and then is reduced to the minimum value; and setting a ratio T_(ON) /T_(C) of an output time T_(ON) to a cycle time T_(C) into a range of T_(ON) /T_(C) ≦0.45, wherein the output time T_(ON) is from the starting point of increasing the output to a starting point of reducing the output, and the cycle time T_(C) is a time required for one cycle which is from an output increasing start point to a next output increasing start point of the output.

If the output of the plating energy source is controlled in the above manner and the ratio T_(ON) /T_(C) of the output time to the cycle time is set in the above manner, it is possible to form, on a surface, an inorganic skin film including a large number of pyramid-shaped crystals which are finely divided uniformly. In addition, it is possible to set the content S of the pyramid-shaped crystals and/or the like in the surface in a range S≧40%.

As a result, for example, in a piston having an inorganic skin film of the type described above, the inorganic skin film exhibits an excellent slide characteristic with lubrication. If the content S is set in a range S≧90%, it is possible to enhance the slide characteristic of the inorganic skin film even without lubrication.

However, if the ratio T_(ON) /T_(C) of the output time to the cycle time is larger than 0.45, the content S of the pyramid-shaped crystals and the like is less than 40%, and the benefits of providing the crystals is lost.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a piston;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2--2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a body-centered cubic structure and its (hhh) plane;

FIG. 4A is a diagrammatic plan view of a portion of one example of a slide surface construction of this invention;

FIG. 4B is a plan view of a metal crystal having three ridge lines;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5--5 in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an inclination of the (hhh) plane in a body-centered cubic structure;

FIG. 7 is an X-ray diffraction pattern for the slide surface construction;

FIG. 8A is a photomicrograph showing a crystal structure of a slide surface of the slide surface construction;

FIG. 8B is an enlarged photomicrograph of FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9 is an X-ray diffraction pattern for a slide surface construction;

FIG. 10A is a photomicrograph showing a crystal structure of a slide surface of the slide surface construction;

FIG. 10B is an enlarged photomicrograph of FIG. 10A;

FIG. 11 is a photomicrograph showing a crystal structure of a slide surface of a slide surface construction;

FIG. 12A is a photomicrograph showing a crystal structure of a slide surface of a slide surface construction;

FIG. 12B is an enlarged photomicrograph of FIG. 12A;

FIG. 12C is a photomicrograph showing a crystal structure of a section of the slide surface according to FIGS. 12A and 12B;

FIG. 13A is a photomicrograph showing a crystal structure of a slide surface of a slide surface construction;

FIG. 13B is an enlarged photomicrograph of FIG. 13A;

FIG. 14 is a graph illustrating the relationship between the area rate of Fe crystals having six ridge lines and the seizure generating load;

FIG. 15 is a graph illustrating the relationship between the area rate of Fe crystals having six ridge lines and the wear amount occurring without lubrication;

FIG. 16 is a graph illustrating the relationship between the content of {222} oriented Fe crystals and the seizure generating load;

FIG. 17 is a waveform of an output from an electrolytic plating power source;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a metal crystal having six ridge lines;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the metal crystal having six ridge lines formed by a method that differs from the method used in forming the metal crystal of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is an X-ray diffraction pattern for a slide surface construction;

FIG. 21 is a photomicrograph showing a crystal structure of a slide surface of a slide surface construction;

FIG. 22 is an X-ray diffraction pattern for the slide surface construction;

FIG. 23 is a photomicrograph showing a crystal structure of a slide surface of a slide surface construction;

FIG. 24 is a graph illustrating the relationship between the time ratio T_(ON) /T_(C) and the content S of {222} oriented Fe crystals;

FIG. 25 is a graph illustrating the relationship between the concentration Fe²⁺ of Fe ions in a plating bath and the content S of the {222} oriented Fe crystals;

FIG. 26 is a graph illustrating the relationship between the pH of the plating bath and the content S of the (222) oriented Fe crystals;

FIG. 27 is a graph illustrating the relationship between the content S of the (222) oriented Fe crystals and the seizure generating load;

FIG. 28 is a graph illustrating the relationship between the content S of the (222) oriented Fe crystals and the wear amount;

FIG. 29 is an X-ray diffraction pattern for a slide surface construction;

FIG. 30 is a photomicrograph showing a crystal structure of a slide surface of the slide surface construction;

FIG. 31 is an X-ray diffraction pattern for a slide surface construction;

FIG. 32 is a photomicrograph showing a crystal structure of a slide surface of the slide surface construction;

FIG. 33 is a graph illustrating the relationship between the minimum current density CDmin and the seizure generating load;

FIG. 34 is a graph illustrating the relationship between the minimum current density CDmin and the wear amount;

FIG. 35 is a perspective view illustrating a face-centered cubic structure and its (3hhh) plane;

FIG. 36 is a plan view of a metal crystal having four ridge lines;

FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating an inclination of the (3hhh) plane in a face-centered cubic structure;

FIG. 38 is an X-ray diffraction pattern for a slide surface construction;

FIG. 39 is a photomicrograph showing a crystal structure of a slide surface of the slide surface construction;

FIG. 40 is a plan view illustrating crystal planes present in slants of a metal crystal having three ridge lines;

FIG. 41 is a plan view illustrating crystal planes present in slants in one example of a metal crystal having six ridge lines;

FIG. 42 is a plan view illustrating crystal planes present in slants in another example of a metal crystal having six ridge lines; and

FIG. 43 is a plan view illustrating crystal planes present in slants in one example of a metal crystal having four ridge lines.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIRST EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a piston 1 for an internal combustion engine includes a base material 2 of an aluminum alloy, and a stratified slide surface construction (inorganic skin film) 4 formed on an outer peripheral surface of each land portion 3₁ and a skirt portion 3² of the base material 2 by plating.

As shown in FIG. 3, the slide surface construction 4 is formed of an aggregate of metal crystals having a cubic crystal structure, e.g., a body-centered cubic structure (which will be referred to as a bcc structure hereinafter) in this embodiment. The aggregate includes a large number of (hhh) oriented metal crystals grown from the base material into a columnar form with their (hhh) planes (by Miller indices) oriented toward a slide surface (skin film surface) 4a for sliding on an inner wall 5 of a cylinder bore.

When the aggregate of the metal crystals having the bcc structure includes the large number of (hhh) oriented metal crystals with their (hhh) planes (by Miller indices) oriented toward the slide surface 4a, as described above, at least some of the (hhh) oriented metal crystals can be formed into hexangular pyramid-shaped (or truncated hexangular pyramid-shaped) metal crystals in the slide surface 4a, i.e., metal crystals 7₁ each having six ridge lines 6, as shown in FIG. 4A. The metal crystals 7₁ having six ridge lines 6 are small in average grain size and substantially uniform in grain size, as compared with a triangular pyramid-shaped (or triangular truncated pyramid-shaped) (hhh) oriented metal crystal shown in FIG. 4B, i.e., metal crystals 7₂ having three ridge lines 6. There is a correlation between the grain size and the height of the (hhh) oriented metal crystals. Therefore, the substantial uniformity of the grain size means that the height is substantially equal.

Moreover, two adjacent metal crystals 7₁ having six ridge lines 6 are in a mutually biting relation. Thus, the slide surface 4a has an enlarged surface area as compared with the case where the slide surface is formed of crystals having three ridge lines, and takes on an intricate morphology having a large number of extremely fine crest portions 8, a large number of extremely fine valley portions 9 provided between the crest portions 8, and a large number of extremely fine swamps 10 (see FIG. 5) provided by mutual biting of the crest portions 8. This leads to extremely good oil retention of the slide surface construction 4. In addition, the tip end of each metal crystal 7₁ having six ridge lines 6 will be worn preferentially, thereby providing an improved initial conformability of the slide surface construction 4.

Further, by finely dividing the metal crystals 7₁ having six ridge lines 6 uniformly, a local increase in surface pressure can be avoided, and the slide load can be finely divided. Thus, the slide surface construction 4 exhibits an excellent wear resistance not only with lubrication but also without lubrication.

As shown in FIG. 6, an inclination of the (hhh) plane with respect to a phantom plane 11 along the slide surface 4a causes an inclination of the metal crystal 7₁ having six ridge lines 6 which influences the oil retention, the initial conformability and the wear resistance characteristics of the slide surface construction 4. It is preferred that inclination angle θ formed by the (hhh) plane with respect to the phantom plane 11 is in a range of 0°≦θ≦15°. The direction of the inclination of the (hhh) plane is not limited. If the inclination angle θ is larger than 15°, the oil retention, initial conformability and wear resistance characteristics of the slide surface construction 4 are adversely effected.

The metal crystals having the bcc structure include those of simple metals such as Fe, Cr, Mo, W, Ta, Zr, Nb, V, etc., and alloys thereof.

In the plating treatment for forming the slide surface construction 4, the basic compositions and conditions for electrolytic Fe-plating are as given in Tables 1 and 2.

                  TABLE 1     ______________________________________     Plating bath composition (g/liter)                            Ammonium   Organic     Ferrous sulfate                 Boric acid sulfate    additive(s)     ______________________________________     100˜400                 0˜50 0˜200                                       0˜150     ______________________________________

The organic additives used are urea, saccharin, etc.

                  TABLE 2     ______________________________________     Treating conditions                  Plating bath Cathode current     Plating bath pH                  temperature (°C.)                               density (A/dm.sup.2)     ______________________________________     3˜6.5  10˜60  0.1˜10     ______________________________________

A direct current or pulse current energization may be applied. If the area rate A of the metal crystals 7₁ having six ridge lines 6 in the slide surface 4a is to be in a range of A≧60% under application of the pulse current energization, the average current density CDm in a cathode is set in a range represented by 1 A/dm² ≧CDm≦10 A/dm², and a ratio T_(ON) /T_(C) of output time T_(ON) to cycle time T_(C) is set in a range represented by T_(ON) /T_(C) ≦0.45, as described hereinafter.

In the electrolytic deposition of the Fe-plating treatment under the above-described conditions, the precipitation and content of the (hhh) oriented Fe crystals are controlled by the cathode current density or the average current density CDm, the pH of a plating bath and the like.

In addition to the electrolytic plating processes, examples of other plating treatments that may be used are PVD processes, CVD processes, sputtering processes, ion plating and the like, which are gas-phase plating processes. Conditions for W-plating or Mo-plating by sputtering include, for example, an argon pressure of 0.2 to 1 Pa, an average argon acceleration power of DC 1 to 1.5 kW, and a temperature of the base material of 150° to 300° C. Conditions for W-plating by a CVD process include, for example, a WF6 starting material, a gas flow rate of 2 to 15 cc/min., a pressure of 50 to 300 Pa within a chamber, a temperature of the base material of 400° to 600° C., and an average output power of ArF excimer laser of 5 to 40 W.

Particular examples will be described below.

A plurality of pistons 1 for internal combustion engines were produced by subjecting the outer peripheral surfaces of the land portions 3₁ and the skirt portion 3₂ of a base material 2 of an aluminum alloy to an electrolytic Fe-plating to form a slide surface construction 4 having an aggregate of Fe crystals.

Tables 3 and 4 show conditions for the electrolytic Fe-plating in examples 1 to 16 of pistons 1 with the slide surface constructions 4. The plating time was varied in a range of 10 to 60 minutes, so that the thickness in the examples 1 to 16 was set at 15 μm. In Table 4, the term "DC" means the utilization of a direct current energization process. The same is true in subsequent Tables.

                  TABLE 3     ______________________________________     Plating bath composition (g/liter)     Example            Ferrous  Boric   Ammonium     No.    sulfate  acid    sulfate Urea  Saccharin     ______________________________________     1      400      0       0       0     0     2      400      0       0       0     0     3      400      0       0       0     0     4      400      0       0       0     0     5      400      0       0       0     0     6      300      0       0       0     0     7      230      30      100     100   1     8      230      30      100     100   1     9      400      0       0       0     0     10     400      0       0       0     0     11     200      0       0       0     0     12     400      0       0       0     0     13     400      0       0       0     0     14     200      0       0       0     0     15     230      30      100     100   0.4     16     230      30      100     100   0.4     ______________________________________

                  TABLE 4     ______________________________________     Treating conditions                       Temperature of     Example Plating   plating bath Cathode current     No.     bath pH   (°C.) density (A/dm.sup.2)     ______________________________________     1       6         50           4     2       5.7       50           4     3       5.5       50           4     4       5         50           4     5       4.5       50           4     6       6         50           4     7       6         50           DC 0.2     8       6         50           DC 1     9       6         50           3.5     10      5.5       50           3.5     11      6         50           3.5     12      6         50           7     13      5.5       50           7     14      6         50           7     15      4         50           DC 5     16      2.7       50           DC 7     ______________________________________

Table 5 shows the crystal shape of the slide surface 4a, the area rate A and the average grain size d of the Fe crystals having six ridge lines, the content S of the oriented Fe crystals and the hardness of the oriented Fe crystals.

                                      TABLE 5     __________________________________________________________________________                Fe crystals having                six ridge lines          Crystal   Average          shape of                Area                    grain                    Hard-     Example          slide rate                    size d                         Content S (%) of oriented Fe cyrstals                                             ness     No.  surface                A (%)                    (μm)                         {110}                             {200}                                 {211}                                     {310}                                         {222}                                             (Hv)     __________________________________________________________________________     1    Hexagonal                99  3    0   0.3 2.4 0   97.3                                             380          pyramid     2    Hexagonal                96  3    0   0   4.8 0   95.2                                             370          pyramid     3    Hexagonal                90  3    0   0   9.9 0   90.1                                             365          pyramid     4    Hexagonal                87  3    0.5 0.2 13.9                                     0   85.4                                             348          pyramid          Trigonal          pyramid     5    Hexagonal                70  3    0.6 3.2 17.9                                     1.6 76.7                                             336          pyramid          Trigonal          pyramid     6    Hexagonal                60  3    5.5 0.4 28.5                                     0.4 65.2                                             331          pyramid          Trigonal          pyramid     7    Hexagonal                30  3    16.3                             1.6 29.4                                     2.3 50.4                                             328          pyramid          Trigonal          pyramid     8    Trigonal                 0  --   32.8                             1.2 20.8                                     2.2 43  302          pyramid     9    Hexagonal                99  2    0   0.2 1.2 0   98.6                                             390          pyramid     10   Hexagonal                90  2    0   0.3 8.7 0   91  370          pyramid     11   Hexagonal                60  2    9.1 3.6 28.3                                     1.6 57.3                                             340          pyramid          Trigonal          pyramid     12   Hexagonal                98  5    0   0   2.9 0   97.1                                             375          pyramid     13   Hexagonal                90  5    0   0.5 9.2 0   90.3                                             360          pyramid     14   Hexagonal                50  5    11  1.9 31.7                                     1.3 54.1                                             335          pyramid          Trigonal          pyramid     15   Fine grain                --  --   15  27  15  13  30  290          pyramid in          part     16   Fine grain                --  --   16  34  10  19  21  280     __________________________________________________________________________

The area rate A of the Fe crystals having six ridge lines was determined according to A=(C/B)×100 (%), wherein B represents an area of the slide surface 4a, and C represents an area occupied by all the Fe crystals having six ridge lines in the slide surface 4a. The grain size of the Fe crystals having six ridge lines is an average value of distances between the mutually opposed corners on the opposite sides of an apex, i.e., three distances.

The content S was determined in the following manner on the basis of X-ray diffraction pattern (X-ray was applied in a direction perpendicular to the slide surface 4a) for the examples 1 to 15. By way of one example, the properties of Example No. 1 will be described in detail. FIG. 7 is an X-ray diffraction pattern for the example 1. The content S of the oriented Fe crystals was determined from the following expressions. It should be noted that, for example, the term "{110} oriented Fe crystal" means an oriented Fe crystal with its {110} plane oriented toward the slide surface 4a.

{110} oriented Fe crystals: S₁₁₀ =((I₁₁₀ /IA₁₁₀)/T)×100

{200} oriented Fe crystals: S₂₀₀ =((I₂₀₀ /IA₂₀₀)/T)×100

{211} oriented Fe crystals: S₂₁₁ =((I₂₁₁ /IA₂₁₁)/T)×100

{310} oriented Fe crystals: S₃₁₀ =((I₃₁₀ /IA₃₁₀)/T)×100

{222} oriented Fe crystals: S₃₁₀ =((I₂₂₂ /IA₂₂₂)/T)×100

wherein each of I₁₁₀, I₂₀₀, I₂₁₁, I₃₁₀ and I₂₂₂ is a measurement (cps) of intensity of X-ray reflected from each crystal plane, and each of IA₁₁₀, IA₂₀₀, IA₂₁₁, IA₃₁₀ and IA₂₂₂ is an intensity ratio of X-ray reflected from each crystal plane in an ASTM card, i.e., IA₁₁₀ =100, IA₂₀₀ -=20, IA₂₁₁ =30, IA₃₁₀ =12 and IA₂₂₂ =6. Further, T=(I₁₁₀ /IA₁₁₀)+(I₂₀₀ /IA₂₀₀)+(I₂₁₁ /IA₂₁₁)+(I₃₁₀ /IA₃₁₀)+(I₂₂₂ /IA₂₂₂).

FIGS. 8A and 8B are photomicrographs showing a crystal structure of the slide surface 4a in the example 1 (at different magnifications). In FIGS. 8A and 8B, a large number of Fe crystals having six ridge lines of a hexangular pyramid shape are observed. As shown in Table 5, the area rate A of the Fe crystals having six ridge lines is 99%, and the average grain size d thereof is 3 μm. This Fe crystal having six ridge lines is a {222} oriented Fe crystal with its (hhh) plane, i.e., {222} plane oriented toward the slide surface 4a. In this case, the content S of the {222} oriented Fe crystals is 97.3%.

FIG. 9 is an X-ray diffraction pattern of the Example No. 6. FIGS. 10A and 10B are photomicrographs showing a crystal structure of the slide surface 4a in the Example No. 6 (at different magnifications). In FIGS. 10A and 10B, a large number of Fe crystals having six ridge lines and a large number of Fe crystals having three ridge lines are observed. As shown in Table 5, the area rate A of the Fe crystals having six ridge lines is 60%, and the average grain size d thereof is 3 μm. In this case, the content S of the {222} oriented Fe crystals is 65.2%., as shown in Table 5 and FIG. 9. This content S is a value including Fe crystals having six ridge lines and three ridge lines.

FIG. 11 is a photomicrograph showing a crystal structure of the slide surface 4a in the Example No. 8. In FIG. 11, a large number of Fe crystals having three ridge lines are observed. The content S of the Fe crystals having three ridge lines, i.e., {222} oriented Fe crystals is 43%, as shown in Table 5.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are photomicrographs showing a crystal structure of the slide surface 4a in the Example No. 9 (at different magnifications). FIG. 12C is a photomicrograph showing a crystal structure of a section in the Example No. 9. In FIGS. 12A and 12C, a large number of Fe crystals having six ridge lines are observed. As shown in Table 5, the area rate A of the Fe crystals having six ridge lines is 99%, and the average grain size d thereof is 2 μm. In this case, the content S of the {222} oriented Fe crystals is 98.6%, as shown in Table 5.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are photomicrographs showing a crystal structure of the slide surface 4a in the Example No. 12 (at different magnifications). In FIGS. 13A and 13B, a large number of Fe crystals having six ridge lines are observed. As shown in Table 5, the area rate A of the Fe crystals having six ridge lines is 98%, and the average grain size d thereof is 5 μm. In this case, the content S of the {222} oriented Fe crystals is 97.1%., as shown in Table 5.

A seizure test was carried out in a chip-on-disk manner for the Example Nos. 1 to 14 and 16 to determine the relationship between the area rate A of the Fe crystals having six ridge lines and the seizure generating load, thereby providing the results shown in Table 6 and FIG. 14. Conditions for the test were as follows: the material of the disk was an Al-10% by weight of Si alloy; the rotational speed of the disk was 15 m/sec.; the amount of oil supplied was 0.3 ml/min.; and the area of the slide surface of the chip made from the slide surface construction was 1 cm².

                  TABLE 6     ______________________________________     Example No. Seizure generating load (N)     ______________________________________     1           1410     2           1400     3           1380     4           1100     5           920     6           870     7           860     8           850     9           1430     10          1400     11          880     12          1170     13          1110     14          850     16          300     ______________________________________

FIG. 14 is a graph taken from Table 6, wherein points (1) to (14) and (16) correspond to the Example Nos. 1 to 14 and 16, respectively.

As apparent from Table 6 and FIG. 14, in the examples 1 to 6 and 9 to 13 in which the area rate A of the Fe crystals having six ridge lines is equal to or more than 60%, the slide surface 4a has a good oil retention and a good initial conformability and therefore, the seizure generating load is increased considerably, as compared with the Example Nos. 7, 8, 14 and 16. It is apparent that particularly in the Example Nos. 1 to 3, 9 and 10 in which the average grain size d of the Fe crystals having six ridge lines is set equal to or less than 3 μm when the area rate A thereof is or equal to more than 90%, the seizure generating load is increased drastically, as compared with the examples 12 and 13 in which the average grain size d is set at a value larger than 3 μm.

A wear test was carried out in a chip-on-disk manner without lubrication for the Example Nos. 1 to 14 to determine the relationship between the area rate A of the Fe crystals having six ridge lines and the amount of wear of the chip, thereby providing the results shown in FIG. 15. Conditions for the test were as follows: the material of the disk was an Al-10% by weight of Si alloy; the rotational speed of the disk was 0.5 m/sec.; the load was 100N; the slide distance was 1 km; and the area of the slide surface of the chip made from the slide surface construction was 1 cm². The wear amount of the chip is a decrement (mg) per area (1 cm²) of the chip.

                  TABLE 7     ______________________________________     Example No.   Wear amount (mg)     ______________________________________     1             0.8     2             0.8     3             0.9     4             1.1     5             1.3     6             1.4     7             1.5     8             1.5     9             0.7     10            0.8     11            1.3     12            1.0     13            1.1     14            1.5     ______________________________________

FIG. 15 is a graph taken from Table 7, wherein points (1) to (14) correspond to chips in the Example Nos. 1 to 14, respectively.

As apparent from Table 7 and FIG. 15, in each of the chips in the examples 1 to 6 and 9 to 13 in which the area rate A of the Fe crystals having six ridge lines is in a range represented by A≧60%, the wear amount of the chip is smaller than those of the chips in the Example Nos. 7, 8 and 14, and hence, each of these chips has a good wear resistance even without lubrication.

FIG. 16 illustrates the relationship between the content S of the {222} oriented Fe crystals and the seizure generating load in the Example Nos. 1 to 8, 15 and 16. The seizure generating loads are as given in Table 6 for the Example Nos. 1 to 8 and 16. For the Example No. 15, it was ascertained in the seizure test under the same conditions as those described above that the seizure generating load was of 500N. Points (1) to (8), (15) and (16) in FIG. 16 correspond to the Example Nos. 1 to 8, 15 and 16, respectively.

In FIG. 16, a region with the content S of the {222} oriented Fe crystals equal to or more than 90% is a region in which the entire slide surface is formed substantially of Fe crystals having six ridge lines. A region with the content S in a range of 43%<S<90% is a region in which the entire slide surface is formed of a combination of Fe crystals having six ridge lines and Fe crystals having three ridge lines. Further, a region with the content S equal to 43% is a region in which the entire slide surface 4a is formed substantially of Fe crystals having three ridge lines, as in the Example No. 8. In a region with the content S<43%, the Fe crystals having three ridge lines are decreased and the fine grain-shaped Fe crystals are increased, with a reduction in the content S. In a region with content S≦21%, the entire slide surface 4a is formed substantially of fine grain-shaped Fe crystals, as in the Example No. 16.

As apparent from FIG. 16, in the Example Nos. 1 to 3 in which the content S of the {222} oriented Fe crystals is equal to or more than 90%, the slide surface 4a has extremely improved oil retention and initial conformability and hence, the seizure generating load is increased drastically, as compared with the Example Nos. 4 to 7 and 8. In the Example Nos. 15 and 16, the oil retention or the like is poor and hence, the seizure generating load is reduced extremely.

SECOND EMBODIMENT

In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, a stratified slide surface construction 4 is formed by plating on outer peripheral surfaces of land portions 3₁ and a skirt portion 3₂ on a base material 2 of an aluminum alloy of a piston 1 for an internal combustion engine, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The slide surface construction 4 is likewise formed of an aggregate of metal crystals having a body-centered cubic structure (which will be referred to as a bcc structure). The aggregate includes a large number of (hhh) oriented metal crystals likewise grown from the base material 2 into a columnar form with their (hhh) planes (by Miller indices) oriented toward the slide surface 4a for sliding on an inner wall 5 of a cylinder bore.

In forming the slide surface construction 4, an electrolytic plating process is utilized. In this electrolytic plating process, the electric current (output) I from a plating power source (energy source) is controlled to produce a pulse waveform with a lapse of time T, so that the electric current I is increased from a minimum current value Imin to reach a maximum current value Imax and then reduced to the minimum current value Imin, as shown in FIG. 17.

If the energization time (output time) from the starting point of the increase in the current I to the starting point of the decrease in the current I is represented by T_(ON) and the cycle time T_(C) where one cycle is defined to be from the starting point of the previous increase to the starting point of the next increase is represented by T_(C), the ratio of the energization time T_(ON) to the cycle time T_(C), i.e., the time ratio T_(ON) /T_(C) is set in a range represented by T_(ON) /T_(C) ≦0.45.

In this case, in the cathode, the content S of the (hhh) oriented metal crystals can be set in a range of S≧40% by setting the minimum current value CDmin at 0 (zero) and setting the average current density CDm, for example, at a value in a range of CDm≧2.5 A/dm₂.

On the other hand, if the minimum current value CDmin is set at 0 (zero); the time ratio T_(ON) /T_(C) is set in a range of T_(ON) /T_(C) ≦0.35 and the average current density CDm is set in a range of CDm≧3.5 A/dm₂, the content S of the (hhh) oriented metal crystals can be set in a range of≧90%.

If the content S of the (hhh) oriented metal crystals is set in the range of S≧90% under the above-described forming conditions, then substantially the entire slide surface 4a can be likewise formed of the aggregate of metal crystals 7₁ having six ridge lines 6, as shown in FIG. 4A.

If the content S of the (hhh) oriented metal crystals is in a range represented by 40%≦S≦90%, the slide surface 4a is formed of an aggregate of metal crystals 7₁ having six ridge lines 6 and metal crystals 7₂ having three ridge lines 6. In this case, the slide surface construction 4 has a slide characteristic lower than that of a slide surface construction 4 in which substantially the entire slide surface 4a is formed of the metal crystals 7₁ having six ridge lines 6.

In the above-described forming process, if the minimum current density CDmin is set in a range represented by CDmin≧0.2 A/dm² ; the time ratio T_(ON) /T_(C) is set in a range represented by T_(ON) /T_(C) ≦0.35 and the average current density CDm is set in a range represented by CDm≧3.5 A/dm², metal crystals 7₁ having six ridge lines 6 each having a substantially flat slant 12 can be precipitated, as shown in FIG. 18.

This metal crystal 7₁ having six ridge lines 6 has a high hardness, which is effective for increasing the wear resistance of the slide surface construction 4.

On the other hand, if the minimum current density CDmin is set in a range represented by CDmin≦-0.2 A/dm² ; the time ratio T_(ON) /T_(C) is set in a range represented by T_(ON) /T_(C) ≧0.35 and the average current density CDm is set in a range represented by CDm≧3.5 A/dm², metal crystals 7₁ having six ridge lines 6 each having a relatively deep valley portion 13 between adjacent ridge lines 6 can be precipitated, as shown in FIG. 19.

This metal crystal 7₁ having six ridge lines 6 has a good oil retention attributable to such valley portion 13 and therefore is effective for increasing the seizure resistance of the slide surface construction 4.

The metal crystals having the bcc structures usable in this invention include those of simple metals such as Fe, Cr, Mo, W, Ta, Zr, Nb, V, etc., and the alloys thereof.

In addition to the electrolytic plating, other plating treatments that may be used are PVD processes, CVD processes, sputtering processes, ion plating and the like, which are gas-phase plating processes. When a W-plating or Mo-plating is carried out by sputtering process, the conditions are controlled to provide, for example, an argon pressure of 0.2 to 1 Pa, a temperature of the base material of 150° to 300° C. and an average argon acceleration power (energy source) of 1 to 1.5 kW. When a W-plating is carried out by a CVD process, conditions are controlled to provide, for example, a WF6 (a starting material) flow rate of 2 to 15 cc/min., a pressure of 50 to 300 Pa within a chamber, a temperature of the base material of 100° to 400° C., and an average output power of ArF excimer laser (energy source) of 5 to 40 W.

GROUP-A

A slide surface construction 4 having a thickness of 15 μm and formed of an aggregate of Fe crystals was formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the land portions 3₁ and the skirt portion 3₂ of the aluminum alloy base material 2 by the utilization of an electrolytic Fe plating process, thereby producing a piston 1 for internal combustion engines. The following various considerations were made for slide surface constructions of such pistons 1:

(a) (a) With regard to time ratio T_(ON) /T_(C) :

Table 8 shows plating bath conditions for Example Nos. 1 to 24 and 50 to 54 of the slide surface constructions 4.

                  TABLE 8     ______________________________________     Plating bath conditions             Concentration             of ferrous  Concentration     Example sulfate     of Fe.sup.2+  ions                                          Tempera-     No.     (g/liter)   (mol/liter)  pH  ture (°C.)     ______________________________________     1˜24,             400         1.4          6   50     50˜54     ______________________________________

Table 9 shows plating conditions for the Example Nos. 1 to 14. In this case, the average current density CDm was set at 7 A/dm² for the Example Nos. 1 to 6, and at 4 A/dm² for the Example Nos. 7 to 14, and the time ratio T_(ON) /T_(C) was varied while keeping the average current density constant.

                  TABLE 9     ______________________________________     Treating conditions of plating            Minimum  Maximum   Average            current  current   current       Output            density  density   density                                      Time   time     Example            CDmin    CDmax     CDm    ratio  T.sub.ON     No.    (A/dm.sup.2)                     (A/dm.sup.2)                               (A/dm.sup.2)                                      T.sub.ON /T.sub.C                                             (msec)     ______________________________________     1      0        140       7      0.05   2     2      0        35        7      0.2    2     3      0        23        7      0.3    2     4      0        17.5      7      0.4    2     5      0        14        7      0.5    2     6      0        DC 7      DC 7   ∞                                             ∞     7      0        80        4      0.05   2     8      0        20        4      0.2    2     9      0        20        4      0.2    1     10     0        20        4      0.2    1     11     0        13        4      0.3    2     12     0        10        4      0.4    2     13     0        8         4      0.5    2     14     0        DC 4      DC 4   ∞                                             ∞     ______________________________________

Table 10 shows plating conditions for the Example Nos. 15 to 24. In this case, the average current density CDm was set at 3.5 A/dm² for the Example Nos. 15 to 19, and at 3 A/dm² for the Example Nos. 20 to 24, and the time ratio T_(ON) /T_(C) was varied while keeping the average current density CDm constant.

                  TABLE 10     ______________________________________     Treating conditions of plating            Minimum  Maximum   Average            current  current   current       Output            density  density   density                                      Time   time     Example            CDmin    CDmax     CDm    ratio  T.sub.ON     No.    (A/dm.sup.2)                     (A/dm.sup.2)                               (A/dm.sup.2)                                      T.sub.ON /T.sub.C                                             (msec)     ______________________________________     15     0        70        3.5    0.05   2     16     0        17.5      3.5    0.2    2     17     0        11.5      3.5    0.3    2     18     0        8.5       3.5    0.4    2     19     0        7         3.5    0.5    2     20     0        60        3      0.05   2     21     0        15        3      0.2    2     22     0        10        3      0.3    2     23     0        7.5       3      0.4    2     24     0        6         3      0.5    2     ______________________________________

Table 11 shows plating conditions for Example Nos. 50 to 54. In this case, the average current density CDm was set at 2.5 A/cm², and the time ratio T_(ON) /T_(C) was varied while keeping the average current density CDm constant.

                  TABLE 11     ______________________________________     Treating conditions of plating            Minimum  Maximum   Average            current  current   current       Output            density  density   density                                      Time   time     Example            CDmin    CDmax     CDm    ratio  T.sub.ON     No.    (A/dm.sup.2)                     (A/dm.sup.2)                               (A/dm.sup.2)                                      T.sub.ON /T.sub.C                                             (msec)     ______________________________________     50     0        50        2.5    0.05   2     51     0        12.5      2.5    0.2    2     52     0        8.5       2.5    0.3    2     53     0        6.5       2.5    0.4    2     54     0        5         2.5    0.5    2     ______________________________________

Table 12 shows the crystal shape of the slide surface 4a, the area rate A and average grain size d of Fe crystals having six ridge lines, the content S of the oriented Fe crystals, and hardness of the oriented Fe crystals in the Example Nos. 1 to 24 and 50 to 54, respectively.

                                      TABLE 12     __________________________________________________________________________                Fe crystals having                six ridge lines          Crystal   Average          shape of                Area                    grain                    Hard-     Example          slide rate                    size d                         Content S (%) of oriented Fe cyrstals                                             ness     No.  surface                A (%)                    (μm)                         {110}                             {200}                                 {211}                                     {310}                                         {222}                                             (Hv)     __________________________________________________________________________     1    Hexagonal                100 5    0   0.2 1.8 0   98  370          pyramid     2    Hexagonal                100 5    0   0   2.9 0   97.1                                             375          pyramid     3    Hexagonal                98  5    0.4 0.8 2   0.3 96.5                                             370          pyramid          Trigonal                ≦1                    --          pyramid     4    Hexagonal                75  5    1.1 2.6 9.7 1.3 85.3                                             325          pyramid          Trigonal                10  --          pyramid     5    Granular                --  --   10.2                             23.1                                 17  25.4                                         24.3                                             270     6    Granular                --  --   13  27.7                                 14.8                                     26.2                                         18.3                                             250     7    Hexagonal                97  3    0   0.9 3.2 0   95.9                                             385          pyramid          Trigonal                ≦ 1                    --          pyramid     8    Hexagonal                96  3    0.5 1.2 3.3 0.7 94.3                                             380          pyramid          Trigonal                ≦1                    --          pyramid     9    Hexagonal                98  3    0.6 1.2 2.1 0.4 95.7                                             380          pyramid          Trigonal                ≦1                    --          pyramid     10   Hexagonal                94  3    0.5 1.4 4.2 0.5 93.4                                             360          pyramid          Trigonal                ≦1                    --          pyramid     11   Hexagonal                94  3    0.6 1   4.4 0.5 93.5                                             360          pyramid          Trigonal                ≦1                    --          pyramid     12   Hexagonal                70  3    2.6 4.3 10.5                                     2.5 80.1                                             330          pyramid          Trigonal                10  --          pyramid     13   Granular                --  --   10.4                             21.1                                 16.8                                     25.3                                         26.4                                             260     14   Granular                --  --   11.2                             26.4                                 15  27.1                                         20.3                                             250     15   Hexagonal                93  2    0.6 1.5 4.6 0.6 92.7                                             390          pyramid          Trigonal                ≦1                    --          pyramid     16   Hexagonal                92  2    0.8 1.6 5.1 1   91.5                                             390          pyramid          Trigonal                ≦1                    --          pyramid     17   Hexagonal                90  2    1   2.1 5.3 1   90.6                                             370          pyramid          Trigonal                ≦1                    --          pyramid     18   Hexagonal                65  2    3.8 3.3 15.4                                     3.6 73.9                                             350          pyramid          Trigonal                10  --          pyramid     19   Granular                --  --   8.5 19.8                                 17.1                                     26  28.6                                             260     20   Hexagonal                70  2    2.6 3   12.9                                     2   79.5                                             350          pyramid          Trigonal                10  --          pyramid     21   Hexagonal                65  2    2.8 4.1 13.8                                     2.5 76.8                                             330          pyramid          Trigonal                10  --          pyramid     22   Hexagonal                60  2    3.1 5.3 18.5                                     2.8 70.3                                             320          pyramid          Trigonal                10  --          pyramid     23   Hexagonal                10  3    11.9                             3.5 30.2                                     3.3 51.1                                             280          pyramid          Trigonal                45  --          pyramid     24   Granular                --  --   8.7 14  19.8                                     25.2                                         32.3                                             270     50   Hexagonal                50  1.5  5.7 5.9 17.3                                     4   67.1                                             340          pyramid          Trigonal                15  --          pyramid     51   Hexagonal                40  1.5  5.1 6.8 18.8                                     4.8 64.5                                             330          pyramid          Trigonal                25  --          pyramid     52   Hexagonal                10  1.5  10.2                             5.4 25.3                                     3.8 55.3                                             300          pyramid          Trigonal                45  --          pryamid     53   Hexagonal                5   1.5  20.1                             4.7 26.3                                     2.5 46.4                                             270          pyramid          Trigonal                40  --          pyramid     54   Granular                --  --   9.9 13.1                                 17.3                                     23.2                                         36.5                                             270     __________________________________________________________________________

The area rate A of the Fe crystals having six ridge lines was determined according to A=(C/B)×100 (%), wherein B represents an area of the slide surface 4a, and C represents an area occupied by all the Fe crystals having six ridge lines in the slide surface 4a. The grain size of the Fe crystals having six ridge lines is likewise an average value of distances between the mutually opposed corners on the opposite sides of an apex, i.e., three distances.

The content S was determined in the same manner as described above on the basis of X-ray diffraction pattern (X-ray was applied in a direction perpendicular to the slide surface 4a) for the Example Nos. 1 to 24 and 50 to 54.

FIG. 20 is an X-ray diffraction pattern for the Example No. 8. For measurements (cps) I₁₁₀, I₂₀₀, I₂₁₁, I₃₁₀ and I₂₂₂ of intensity of X-ray reflected from each crystal plane, I₁₁₀ =0.8K, I₂₀₀ =0.4K, I₂₀₀ ≧1.7K, I₃₁₀ =0.15K and I₂₂₂ =9.8K. For intensity ratios IA₁₁₀, IA₂₀₀, IA₂₁₁, IA₃₁₀ and IA₂₂₂ of X-ray reflected each crystal plane in an ASTM card, IA₁₁₀ =100, IA₂₀₀ =20, IA₂₁₁ =30, IA₃₁₀ =12 and IA₂₂₂ =6. Hence, T=(I₁₀₀ /IA₁₁₀)+(I₂₀₀ /IA₂₀₀)+(I₂₁₁ /IA₂₁₁)+(I₃₁₀ /IA₃₁₀)+(I₂₂₂ /IA₂₂₂)=1.73K.

FIG. 21 is a photomicrograph showing a crystal structure of the slide surface 4a in the Example No. 8, in which a large number of Fe crystals having six ridge lines of a hexangular pyramid shape are observed. As shown in Table 12, the area rate A of the Fe crystals having six ridge lines is 96%, and the average grain size d thereof is 3 μm. This Fe crystal having six ridge lines is a {222} oriented Fe crystal with its (hhh) plane, i.e., {222} plane oriented toward the slide surface 4a. In this case, the content S of the oriented Fe crystals is 94.3%, as shown in FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is an X-ray diffraction pattern of the Example No. 14. FIG. 23 is a photomicrograph showing a crystal structure of the slide surface 4a in the Example No. 14, in which a large number of granular Fe crystals are observed.

FIG. 24 shows the relationship between the time ratio T_(ON) /T_(C) and the content S of the {222} oriented Fe crystals in the Example Nos. 1 to 24 and 50 to 54. In FIG. 24, points (1) to (24) and (50) to (54) correspond to the Example Nos. 1 to 24 and 50 to 54. As apparent from FIG. 24, the content S of the {222} oriented Fe crystals can be provided in a range represented by S≧40%, at respective average current density CDm by setting the time ratio T_(ON) /T_(C) in a range represented by T_(ON) /T_(C) ≦0.45.

In this case, if the average current density CDm is set in a range of CDm≧3.5 A/dm² and the time ratio T_(ON) /T_(C) in a range T_(ON) /T_(C) ≦0.35, the content S of the {222} oriented Fe crystals ms in a range S≧90%. In a region of 90≦S≧100% and 0≦T_(ON) /T_(C) ≦0.35 in FIG. 24, most of the {222} oriented Fe crystals are in the form of Fe crystals having six ridge lines.

On the other hand, a region in FIG. 24 obtained by eliminating a region in which the Fe crystals having six ridge lines are present alone from a region of S≧40% and T_(ON) /T_(C) ≦0.45 is a region in which both the Fe crystals having six ridge lines and the Fe crystals having three ridge lines are present.

(b) With regard to concentration of Fe ions (Fe²⁺) in the plating bath:

Table 13 shows plating conditions for the Example Nos. 25 to 36 of the slide surface constructions 4.

                  TABLE 13     ______________________________________     Plating bath conditions             Concentration             of ferrous  Concentration     Example sulfate     of Fe.sup.2+  ions                                          Tempera-     No.     (g/liter)   (mol/liter)  pH  ture (°C.)     ______________________________________     25      300         1.05         6   50     26      200         0.7          6   50     27      100         0.35         6   50     28      500         1.75         6   50     29      300         1.05         6   50     30      200         0.7          6   50     31      100         0.35         6   50     32      500         1.75         6   50     33      300         1.05         6   50     34      200         0.7          6   50     35      300         1.05         6   50     36      200         0.7          6   50     ______________________________________

Table 14 shows plating conditions for the Example Nos. 25 to 36. In this case, the average current density CDm was set at 7 A/dm² in the Example Nos. 25 to 27, at 4 A/dm² in the Example Nos. 28 to 31, at 3.5 A/dm² in the Example Nos. 32 to 34 and at 3 A/dm² in the Example Nos. 35 and 36. The concentration of Fe ions (Fe²⁺) was varied while keeping the current density CDm as shown in Table 13 constant.

                  TABLE 14     ______________________________________     Treating conditions of plating            Minimum  Maximum   Average            current  current   current       Output            density  density   density                                      Time   time     Example            CDmin    CDmax     CDm    ratio  T.sub.ON     No.    (A/dm.sup.2)                     (A/dm.sup.2)                               (A/dm.sup.2)                                      T.sub.ON /T.sub.C                                             (msec)     ______________________________________     25     0        35        7      0.2    2     26     0        35        7      0.2    2     27     0        35        7      0.2    2     28     0        20        4      0.2    2     29     0        20        4      0.2    2     30     0        20        4      0.2    2     31     0        20        4      0.2    2     32     0        17.5      3.5    0.2    2     33     0        17.5      3.5    0.2    2     34     0        17.5      3.5    0.2    2     35     0        15        3      0.2    2     36     0        15        3      0.2    2     ______________________________________

Table 15 shows the crystal shape of the slide surface 4a, the area rate A and average grain size d of the Fe crystals having six ridge lines, the content S of the oriented Fe crystals, and the hardness of the oriented Fe crystals for the Example Nos. 25 to 36, respectively.

                                      TABLE 15     __________________________________________________________________________                Fe crystals having                six ridge lines          Crystal   Average          shape of                Area                    grain                    Hard-     Example          slide rate                    size d                         Content S (%) of oriented Fe cyrstals                                             ness     No.  surface                A (%)                    (μm)                         {110}                             {200}                                 {211}                                     {310}                                         {222}                                             (Hv)     __________________________________________________________________________     25   Hexagonal                96  5    0.8 1.3 2   0.5 95.4                                             365          pyramid          Trigonal                ≦1                    --          pyramid     26   Hexagonal                65  5    3.1 4.8 15.2                                     2.2 74.7                                             280          pyramid          Trigonal                10  --          pyramid     27   Hexagonal                10  5    10.4                             3.6 26.7                                     2.7 56.6                                             210          pyramid          Trigonal                45  --          pyramid     28   Hexagonal                95  3    0.7 1.4 2.3 0.7 94.9                                             380          pyramid          Trigonal                ≦1                    --          pyramid     29   Hexagonal                92  3    1.5 2.3 3.2 0.9 92.1                                             365          pyramid          Trigonal                ≦1                    --          pyramid     30   Hexagonal                60  3    5.8 3.6 19.1                                     2.5 69  300          pyramid          Trigonal                10  --          pyramid     31   Trigonal                45  --   20.8                             3.5 28.8                                     2.4 44.5                                             270          pyramid     32   Hexagonal                92  2    1.5 2   3.5 1   92  390          pyramid          Trigonal                ≦1                    --          pyramid     33   Hexagonal                90  2    1.8 2.4 4.6 1   90.2                                             380          pyramid          Trigonal                ≦1                    --          pyramid     34   Hexagonal                40  2    11.3                             3.8 22.2                                     2   60.7                                             320          pyramid          Trigonal                20  --          pyramid     35   Hexagonal                60  2    6   3.9 17.6                                     2.6 69.9                                             300          pyramid          Trigonal                10  --          pyramid     36   Trigonal                40  --   17.5                             9.7 20.3                                     11.8                                         40.7                                             275          pyramid     __________________________________________________________________________

FIG. 25 shows the relationship between the concentration of Fe ions (Fe²⁺) in the plating bath and the content S of the {222} oriented Fe crystals in the Example Nos. 25 to 36 and the above-described Example Nos. 2, 8, 16 and 21. In FIG. 25, points (2), (8), (16), (21), (25) to (36) correspond to the Example Nos. 2, 8, 28, 21, 25 to 36. As apparent from FIG. 25, the content S of the {222} oriented Fe crystals can be set in a range S≧40% by setting the concentration of Fe²⁺ ions in a range Fe²⁺ ≧0.6, for example, at an average current density Cdm≧A/dm². In order to set the content S of the {222} oriented Fe crystals in a range S≧90%, it is necessary to set the concentration of Fe²⁺ ions in a range of Fe²⁺ ≧1 at an average current density Cdm≧3.5 A/dm².

(c) With regard to pH of plating bath:

Table 16 shows plating conditions for the Example Nos. 37 to 47 of the slide surface constructions 4.

                  TABLE 16     ______________________________________     Plating bath conditions             Concentration             of ferrous  Concentration     Example sulfate     of Fe.sup.2+  ions                                          Tempera-     No.     (g/liter)   (mol/liter)  pH  ture (°C.)     ______________________________________     37      400         1.4          5.5 50     38      400         1.4          5   50     39      400         1.4          4   50     40      400         1.4          7   50     41      400         1.4          5.5 50     42      400         1.4          5   50     43      400         1.4          7   50     44      400         1.4          5.5 50     45      400         1.4          5   50     46      400         1.4          5.5 50     47      400         1.4          5   50     ______________________________________

Table 17 shows plating conditions for the Example Nos. 37 to 47. In this case, the average current density CDm was set at 7 A/dm² for the Example Nos. 37 to 39, at 4 A/dm² in the Example Nos. 40 to 42, at 3.5 A/dm² for the Example Nos. 43 to 45 and at 3 A/dm² for the Example Nos. 46 and 47. The pH value was varied while keeping the average current density CDm constant as shown in Table 16.

                  TABLE 17     ______________________________________     Treating conditions of plating            Minimum  Maximum   Average            current  current   current       Output            density  density   density                                      Time   time     Example            CDmin    CDmax     CDm    ratio  T.sub.ON     No.    (A/dm.sup.2)                     (A/dm.sup.2)                               (A/dm.sup.2)                                      T.sub.ON /T.sub.C                                             (msec)     ______________________________________     37     0        35        7      0.2    2     38     0        35        7      0.2    2     39     0        35        7      0.2    2     40     0        20        4      0.2    2     41     0        20        4      0.2    2     42     0        20        4      0.2    2     43     0        17.5      3.5    0.2    2     44     0        17.5      3.5    0.2    2     45     0        17.5      3.5    0.2    2     46     0        15        3      0.2    2     47     0        15        3      0.2    2     ______________________________________

Table 18 shows the crystal shape of the slide surface 4a, the area rate A and average grain size d of the Fe crystals having six ridge lines, the content S of the oriented Fe crystals, and the hardness of the oriented Fe crystals in the Example Nos. 37 to 47, respectively.

                                      TABLE 18     __________________________________________________________________________                Fe crystals having                six ridge lines          Crystal   Average          shape of                Area                    grain                    Hard-     Example          slide rate                    size d                         Content S (%) of oriented Fe cyrstals                                             ness     No.  surface                A (%)                    (μm)                         {110}                             {200}                                 {211}                                     {310}                                         {222}                                             (Hv)     __________________________________________________________________________     37   Hexagonal                96  5    1.2 0.5 2.2 0.3 95.8                                             370          pyramid          Trigonal                ≦1                    --          pyramid     38   Hexagonal                80  5    1.2 1.1 8.3 1.4 88  330          pyramid          Trigonal                10  --          Pyramid     39   Hexagonal                5   5    11.1                             2.8 31.5                                     3.5 51.1                                             280          pyramid          Trigonal                45          pyramid     40   Hexagonal                95  3    0.5 1.1 3   0.3 95.1                                             380          pyramid          Trigonal                ≦1                    --          pyramid     41   Hexagonal                93  3    0.8 1.2 4.5 0.8 92.7                                             370          pyramid          Trigonal                ≦1                    --          pyramid     42   Hexagonal                80  3    0.5 0.2 13.9                                     0   85.4                                             348          pyramid          Trigonal                5   --          pyramid     43   Hexagonal                92  2    1.0 1.5 4.6 0.8 92.1                                             390          pyramid          Trigonal                ≦1                    --          pyramid     44   Hexagonal                90  2    1.7 2.6 4.2 1.5 90  380          pyramid          Trigonal                ≦1                    --          pyramid     45   Hexagonal                70  2    3   4.1 10.7                                     2.7 79.5                                             360          pyramid          Trigonal                10  --          pyramid     46   Hexagonal                60  2    3.8 5.6 17.3                                     3   70.3                                             300          pyramid          Trigonal                10  --          pyramid     47   Hexagonal                40  2    5   6.8 18.6                                     4.6 65  295          pyramid          Trigonal                25  --          pyramid     __________________________________________________________________________

FIG. 26 shows the relationship between the pH value of the plating bath and the content S of the {222} oriented Fe crystals in the Example Nos. 37 to 47 and the above-described Example Nos. 2, 8, 16 and 21. In FIG. 26, points (2), (8), (16), (21) and (37) to (47) correspond to the Example Nos. 2, 8, 16, 21 and 37 to 47, respectively. As apparent from FIG. 26, the content S of the {222} oriented Fe crystals can be set in a range of S≧40% by setting the pH value in a range of pH≧4.5, for example, at an average current density CDm≧3 A/dm². In order to set the content S of the {222} oriented Fe crystals in a range of S≧90%, it is necessary to set the pH value in a range of pH≧5.5 at an average current density CDm≧3.5 A/dm².

(d) (d) With regard to seizure and wear resistance:

A seizure test was carried out in a chip-on-disk manner with lubrication for the Example Nos. 1, 7, 8, 11 to 14, 22 to 24 and 31 of the slide surface constructions 4 to determine the relationship between the content S of the {222} oriented Fe crystals and the seizure generating load. Test conditions were as follows: the material of the disk was Al-10% by weight of Si alloy; the rotational speed of the disk was 15 m/sec.; the amount of oil supplied was 0.3 ml/min.; and the area of the slide surface of the chip made from the slide construction was 1 cm².

A wear test was also carried out in a chip-on-disk manner with lubrication for the Example Nos. 1, 7, 8, 11 to 14, 17, 22 to 24 and 31 to determine the relationship between the content S of the {222} oriented Fe crystals and the wear amount of the chip. Test conditions were as follows: the material of the disk was an Al-10% by weight of Si alloy; the rotational speed of the disk was 0.5 m/sec.; the load was 100N; the slide distance was 1 km; and the area of the slide surface of the chip made from the slide construction was 1 cm². The wear amount of the chip is decrement (mg) per area (1 cm²) of the chip.

Table 19 shows the results of the seizure and wear tests. FIGS. 27 and 28 are graphs taken from Table 19. In both FIGS. 27 and 28, points (1), (7), (8), (11) to (14), (17), (22) to (24) and (31) correspond to the Example Nos. 1, 7, 8, 11 to 14, 17, 22 to 24 and 31, respectively.

                  TABLE 19     ______________________________________               Content S               (%) of {222}                           Seizure               oriented Fe generating Wear amount     Example No.               crystals    load (N)   (mg)     ______________________________________      1        98          1420       0.7      7        95.9        1410       0.8      8        94.3        1400       0.8     11        93.5        1380       0.9     12        80.1        1080       1.2     13        26.4        300        2.4     14        20.3        300        2.5     17        90.6        1380       0.9     22        70.3        880        1.4     23        51.1        850        1.5     24        32.3        350        2.3     31        44.5        800        1.5     ______________________________________

As is apparent from Table 19 and FIG. 27, when the content S of the {222} oriented Fe crystals is in a range of S≧40%, the slide surface 4a has a good oil retention and a good initial conformability and hence, the seizure resistance is increased considerably. It is apparent that particularly when the content S of the {222} oriented Fe crystals is in a range of S≧90%, the seizure resistance is increased drastically due to an increase in density of the Fe crystals having six ridge lines.

In addition, as apparent from Table 19 and FIG. 28, when the content S of the {222} oriented Fe crystals is in a range of S≧40%, the wear amount of the chip becomes smaller and therefore, even without lubrication, a good wear resistance is obtained. Particularly when the content S of the {222} oriented Fe crystals is in a range of S≧90%, the seizure resistance is extremely good due to an increase in density of the Fe crystals having six ridge lines.

GROUP-B

Although the minimum current density CDmin has been set at 0 (zero) A/dm² in the above-described Group-A, the minimum current density CDmin is set in a range of CDmin≧0.2 A/dm² or in a range of CDmin≦-0.2 A/dm₂ in this Group-B.

Table 20 shows plating conditions for Example Nos. 1 to 7 of slide surface constructions. It should be noted that the Example No. 4 is the same as the Example 8 in Group-A.

                  TABLE 20     ______________________________________     Plating bath conditions             Concentration             of ferrous  Concentration     Example sulfate     of Fe.sup.2+  ions                                          Tempera-     No.     (g/liter)   (mol/liter)  pH  ture (°C.)     ______________________________________     1˜7             400         1.4          6   50     ______________________________________

Table 21 shows plating conditions in the Example Nos. 1 to 7.

                  TABLE 21     ______________________________________     Treating conditions of plating            Minimum  Maximum   Average            current  current   current       Output            density  density   density                                      Time   time     Example            CDmin    CDmax     CDm    ratio  T.sub.ON     No.    (A/dm.sup.2)                     (A/dm.sup.2)                               (A/dm.sup.2)                                      T.sub.ON /T.sub.C                                             (msec)     ______________________________________     1      -1       24        4      0.2    2     2      -0.5     22        4      0.2    2     3      -0.2     21        4      0.2    2     4      0        20        4      0.2    2     5      0.2      19        4      0.2    2     6      0.5      18        4      0.2    2     7      1        16        4      0.2    2     ______________________________________

Table 22 shows the crystal shape of the slide surface 4a, the area rate A and average grain size d of the Fe crystals having six ridge lines, and the content S of the oriented Fe crystals, and hardness of the oriented Fe crystals in the Example Nos. 1 to 7, respectively.

                                      TABLE 22     __________________________________________________________________________                Fe crystals having                six ridge lines          Crystal   Average          shape of                Area                    grain                    Hard-     Example          slide rate                    size d                         Content S (%) of oriented Fe cyrstals                                             ness     No.  surface                A (%)                    (μm)                         {110}                             {200}                                 {211}                                     {310}                                         {222}                                             (Hv)     __________________________________________________________________________     1    Hexagonal                95  6    0.8 1.5 4.2 0.7 92.8                                             370          pyramid          Trigonal                ≦1                    --          pyramid     2    Hexagonal                93  6    0.8 1.7 3.7 0.7 93.1                                             370          pyramid          Trigonal                ≦1                    --          pyramid     3    Hexagonal                94  5    0.7 1.6 3.5 0.7 93.5                                             375          pyramid          Trigonal                ≦1                    --          pyramid     4    Hexagonal                96  3    0.5 1.2 3.3 0.7 94.3                                             380          pyramid          Trigonal                ≦1                    --          pyramid     5    Hexagonal                95  5    0.4 1.4 3.2 0.4 94.6                                             400          pyramid          Trigonal                ≦1                    --          pyramid     6    Hexagonal                96  6    0.3 1.3 2.9 0.4 95.1                                             400          pyramid          Trigonal                ≦1                    --          pyramid     7    Hexagonal                97  6    0.3 1.2 2.9 0.3 95.3                                             400          pyramid          Trigonal                ≦1                    --          pyramid     __________________________________________________________________________

FIG. 29 is an X-ray diffraction pattern for the Example No. 1, and FIG. 30 is an electronic photomicrograph showing a crystal structure of a slide surface 4a in the Example No. 1. As apparent from FIG. 30, if the minimum current density CDmin is set in a range CDmin≦-0.2 A/dm², the {222} oriented Fe crystals are Fe crystals having six ridge lines having relatively deep valleys between the adjacent ridge lines.

FIG. 31 is an X-ray diffraction pattern for the Example No. 7, and FIG. 32 is an electronic photomicrograph showing a crystal structure of the slide surface 4a in the Example No. 7. As apparent from FIG. 32, if the minimum current density CDmin is set in a range of CDmin≧0.2 A/dm², the {222} oriented Fe crystals are Fe crystals and six ridge lines having substantially flat slants between adjacent ridge lines.

A seizure test with lubrication and a wear test without lubrication for the Example Nos. 1 to 7 were carried out under the same conditions as those described above to provide results given in Table 23. FIGS. 33 and 34 are graphs taken from Table 23, wherein points (1) to (7) correspond to the Example Nos. 1 to 7.

                  TABLE 23     ______________________________________               Content S               (%) of {222}                           Seizure               oriented Fe generating Wear amount     Example No.               crystals    load (N)   (mg)     ______________________________________     1         -1          1420       0.9     2         -0.5        1420       0.9     3         -0.2        1415       0.85     4         0           1400       0.8     5         0.2         1390       0.7     6         0.5         1390       0.7     7         1           1390       0.7     ______________________________________

As is apparent from Table 23 and FIG. 33, if the minimum current density CDmin is set in a range CDmin≧-0.2 A/dm², each Fe crystal having six ridge lines has an Improved oil retention due to each valley portion thereof and hence, has an enhanced seizure resistance as in the Example Nos. 1 to 3.

As is apparent from Table 23 and FIG. 34, if the minimum current density CDmin is set in a range CDmin≧0.2 A/dm², each Fe crystal having six ridge lines has an increased hardness and hence, has an enhanced wear resistance.

GROUP-C

As shown in FIG. 35, the slide surface construction 4 may be formed of an aggregate of metal crystals having a face-centered cubic structure (which will be referred to as an fcc structure). The aggregate includes (3hhh) oriented metal crystals grown into a columnar form from a base material 2 with their (3hhh) planes (by Miller indices) oriented toward a slide surface 4a, wherein the content S of the (3hhh) oriented metal crystals is set in a range S≧40%. As shown in FIG. 36, the (3hhh) oriented metal crystal is a metal crystal of a quadrangular pyramid (or truncated quadrangular pyramid) shape in the slide surface 4a, i.e., a metal crystal 7₃ having four ridge lines 6₃.

As shown in FIG. 37, the inclination of the (3hhh) plane with respect to a phantom plane 11 extending along the slide surface 4a appears as an inclination of the quadrangular pyramid and therefore, an influence is imparted to the oil retention and the initial conformability of the slide surface construction 4. Preferably, the inclination angle θ formed by the (3hhh) plane with respect to the phantom plane 11 is set in a range represented by 0°≦θ15° for the same reason as that described above. In this case, the direction of inclination of the (3hhh) plane is not limited.

Metal crystals having the fcc structure includes those of simple metals such as Pb, Ni, Cu, Pt, Al, Ag, Au and the like and alloys thereof, particular examples of which now will be described below.

Cam shafts for internal combustion engines were produced by subjecting the outer peripheral surfaces of a base material of a cast iron to an electrolytic Ni-plating to form a slide surface construction 4 comprised of an aggregate of Ni crystals. Plating bath conditions were as follows: the concentration (Ni²⁺) of Ni ions (Ni²°) was 1 mol/liter; the pH was 5.5 and the temperature was 55° C. Plating conditions were as follows: the minimum current density CDmin was 0 A/dm² ; the maximum current density CDmax was 20 A/dm² ; the average current density CDm was 4 A/dm² ; the time ratio T_(ON) /T_(C) was 0.2; and the output time T_(ON) was 2 msec.

The resultant slide surface was of a combined quadrangular pyramid/granular shape, wherein the area rate A of Ni crystals having four ridge lines was 60% and the average grain size d of the Ni crystals having four ridge lines was 4 μm; the content S of {111} oriented Ni crystals was 29%; the content S of {222} oriented Ni crystals was 15.2%; the content S of {220} oriented Ni crystals was 4.7%; and the content of {311} oriented Ni crystals was 51.1%; and the hardness Hv was 250.

The contents S were determined from the following expressions on the basis of an X-ray diffraction pattern (the X-ray was applied in a direction perpendicular to the slide surface) of a slide surface construction shown in FIG. 38. For example, the term "{111} oriented Ni crystal" means an oriented Ni crystal with its {111} plane oriented toward the slide surface.

{111} oriented Ni crystal: S₁₁₁ =((I₁₁₁ /IA₁₁₁)/T)×100

{200} oriented Ni crystal: S₂₀₀ =((I₂₀₀ /IA₂₀₀)/T)×100

{220} oriented Ni crystal: S₂₂₀ =((I₂₂₀ /IA₂₂₀)/T)×100

{311} oriented Ni crystal: S₃₁₁ =((I₃₁₁ /IA₃₁₁)/T)×100 wherein each of I₁₁₁, I₂₀₀, I₂₂₀ and I₃₁₁ is a measurement (cps) of intensity of X-ray reflected from each crystal plane, I₁₁₁ =78.6K, I₂₀₀ =17.4K, I₂₂₀ =2.7K, and I₃₁₁ =27.7K, and each of IA₁₁₁, IA₂₀₀, IA₂₂₀ and IA₃₁₁ is an intensity ratio of X-ray reflected from each crystal plane in an ASTM card, IA₁₁₁ =100, IA₂₀₀ =42, IA₂₀₀ =21 and IA₃₁₁ =20. Hence, T=(I₁₁₁ /IA₁₁₁)+(I₂₀₀ /IA₂₀₀)+(I₂₂₀ /IA₂₂₀)+(I₃₁₁ /IA₃₁₁)=2.71K.

FIG. 39 is a photomicrograph showing a crystal structure of the slide surface. In FIG. 39, a large number of quadrangular pyramid-shaped Ni crystals having four ridge lines are observed. This Ni crystal having four ridge lines is a {311} oriented Ni crystal with its (3hhh) plane, i.e., {311} plane oriented toward the slide surface, and has a content S equal to 51.1%.

A seizure test with lubrication and a wear test without lubrication were carried out for this slide surface construction under the same conditions as those described above. The results showed that seizure generating load was 650N and the wear amount was 1.6 mg.

In the (hhh) oriented metal crystals having the body-centered cubic structure, i.e., the metal crystals having three or six ridge lines, the crystal shape in the slide surface, the crystal planes present in each slant and the like are as given in Table 24.

                  TABLE 24     ______________________________________     Crystal  Crystal     shape in plane     slide    present in Characteristic                                      Referential     surface  each slant of slant     drawing     ______________________________________     Triangular              (hh0)      High hardness,                                      FIG. 40     pyramid  plane-     good              close-     wettability              packed     and wear              plane      resistance     Hexangular              (hhh)      Excellent    FIG. 41:     Pyramid  plane: 50% wettability  slant              (5hhh)     due to (hhh) having deep              plane: 50  plane having a                                      valleys                         large surface                         energy              (hh0)      High hardness,                                      FIG. 42:              plane: 50% good         flat slant              (2hhh)     wettability              plane: 50% and wear              (hh0)      resistance              plane-              close-              packed              plane     ______________________________________

In the (3hhh) oriented metal crystals having the face-centered cubic structure, i.e., the metal crystals having four ridge lines, the crystal shape in the slide surface, the crystal planes present in each slant and the like are as given in Table 25.

                  TABLE 25     ______________________________________     Crystal  Crystal     shape in plane     slide    present in Characteristic                                      Referential     surface  each slant of slant     drawing     ______________________________________     Quadrangular              (h00)      Good         FIG. 43     pyramid  plane-     wettability              plane      and wear              having high                         resistance              atom              density     ______________________________________

In a slide surface construction formed of an aggregate of metal crystals having an fcc structure, when the aggregate includes a large number of (hhh) oriented metal crystals with their (hhh) planes (by Miller indices) oriented toward the slide surface, at least some of the (hhh) oriented metal crystals can be formed into metal crystals having six ridge lines similar to those described above in the slide surface. The (hhh) oriented metal crystals may be {111} oriented Ni crystals, when Ni is used.

The slide surface construction of this invention is applicable, for example, to a slide portion of any of following parts for internal combustion engines: pistons (ring grooves), piston rings, piston pins, connecting rods, crank shafts, bearing metals, oil pump rotors, oil pump rotor housings, cam shafts, springs (end faces), spring seats, spring retainers, cotters, rocker arms, roller bearing outer cases, roller bearing inner cases, valve stems, valve faces, hydraulic tappets, water pump rotor shafts, pulleys, gears, transmission shaft portions, clutch plates, washers, and bolts (bearing surfaces and threaded portions).

It will be understood that the present invention is not limited to the formation of the slide surface construction and is applicable to the formation of a light absorbing member utilizing an absorbance of a skin film having metal crystals of the type described above, the formation of a magnetic shield material utilizing a high permeability of the skin film, the formation of a primary coat and the like. In this case, the light absorbing members embrace a light absorbing film used for an infrared laser processing, a light receiving plate in a heat exchanger utilizing a solar heat, a reflection preventing film in a solar cell, and the like. The primary coats embrace those formed on an outer surface of a cast-in insert member, a coating surface of a member, and the like.

Further, the material for forming the skin film are not limited to the described metals, and an inorganic skin film may be formed of ceramics such as carbonates, oxides, nitrides, etc., having a cubic crystal structure. 

What is claimed is
 1. An inorganic skin film formed of an aggregate of three dimensional crystals having a cubic crystal structure, at least some of said three dimensional crystals being hexangular pyramid-shaped crystals or truncated hexangular pyramid-shaped crystals having six ridge lines projecting from the surface of the skin film.
 2. An inorganic skin film formed of an aggregate of metal crystals, said aggregate including three dimensional (hhh) oriented metal crystals having a cubic crystal structure with their (hhh) planes (by Miller indices) oriented toward the skin film surface, at least some of said three dimensional (hhh) oriented metal crystals being hexangular pyramid-shaped metal crystals or truncated hexangular pyramid-shaped metal crystals having six ridge lines projecting from the surface of the skin film.
 3. An inorganic skin film formed of an aggregate of metal crystals, said aggregate including (hhh) oriented metal crystals having a cubic crystal structure with their (hhh) planes (by Miller indices) oriented toward the skin film surface, at least some of said (hhh) oriented metal crystals being hexangular pyramid-shaped metal crystals or truncated hexangular pyramid-shaped metal crystals having six ridge lines in the skin film surface, wherein the area rate A of said metal crystals having six ridge lines in said skin film surface is in a range of A≧60%.
 4. An inorganic skin film according to claim 3, wherein the average grain size d of said metal crystals having six ridge lines is in a range of d≦3 μm.
 5. An inorganic skin film according to claim 4, wherein the content S of said (hhh) oriented metal crystals is in a range of S≧90%.
 6. An inorganic skin film according to claim 3, wherein the content S of said (hhh) oriented metal crystals is in a range of S≧90%.
 7. An inorganic skin film formed of an aggregate of metal crystals, said aggregate including (hhh) oriented metal crystals having a cubic crystal structure with their (hhh) planes by Miller indices) oriented toward the skin film surface, at least some of said (hhh) oriented metal crystals being hexangular pyramid-shaped metal crystals or truncated hexangular pyramid-shaped metal crystals having six ridge lines in the skin film surface, wherein the average grain size d of said metal crystals having six ridge lines is in a range of d≧3μm.
 8. An inorganic skin film according to claim 7, wherein the content S of said (hhh) oriented metal crystals is in a range of S≧90%.
 9. An inorganic skin film formed of an aggregate of metal crystals, said aggregate including (hhh) oriented metal crystals having a cubic crystal structure with their (hhh) planes (by Miller indices) oriented toward the skin film surface, at least some of said (hhh) oriented metal crystals being hexangular pyramid-shaped metal crystals or truncated hexangular pyramid-shaped metal crystals having six ridge lines in the skin film surface, wherein the content S of said (hhh) oriented metal crystals is in a range of S≧90%. 